Martha

“Lady; mistress” — Aramaic (via Greek and Latin) origin

Girl's name · #713 in the US (2025) · Heirloom

Martha is an heirloom: its strongest era came around 1882, when it ranked #14. It has thinned since but never left the records — about 552,000 girls since 1880, ranked #713 today. In all that time it has never once missed a year of the national records. Martha's short forms are Marty, Mattie, Patsy, and Matty.

Around the world: #85 in N. Ireland (2025).

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 31 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Famous Marthas

Martha Washington — First Lady of the United States from 1789 to 1797
Martha Argerich — Argentine pianist (1941-)
Martha Graham — American dancer and choreographer (1894–1991)
Martha Stewart — American businesswoman, writer, TV personality (born 1941)
Martha Nussbaum — American philosopher (born 1947)

In stories & tradition

Martha — Gospel of Luke · Gospel of John
Martha Jones — Torchwood · Doctor Who
Martha Wayne — Detective Comics

What Marthas become

Among 2,041 notable people named Martha:

Artists & writers appear 1.58× more often than among typical names — e.g. Martha Stewart, American businesswoman, writer, TV personality (born 1941).

Similar names: Marta · Kate · Marie · Greta · Gloria · Marjorie

Browse more girl names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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